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Another 15 Minnesotans died from COVID-19 and 365 more people have tested positive for the disease, including another 31 people in Stearns County, according to Tuesday's report from the Minnesota Department of Health.

The increase was expected as the virus spreads and the state begins to ramp up testing, according to both local and state officials.

The number of people statewide who tested positive for the novel coronavirus reached 4,181 Tuesday, and 301 people have died since the first death was reported on March 21.

Stearns County now has 86 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Benton County added two cases to its count Tuesday for a total of six, and Sherburne County held stead at 16 confirmed cases.

The increase in Stearns County cases from Monday to Tuesday was the largest to date, nearly doubling the case increase from Sunday to Monday (17).

A news release from Stearns County on Tuesday attributed the increased cases to the increase in testing statewide.

"We have seen a growing number of positive cases with hot spots in some of our communities," the release states.

Last week, Gov. Tim Walz announced plans to increase capacity to as many as 20,000 molecular tests and 15,000 serology tests per day over the next few weeks.

"With the increase in testing both with the governor's goal of increasing testing ... as well as with the intensive testing that has been done at various agribusiness plants across the state, we are seeing a big increase in our case numbers," said Kris Ehresmann, state infectious disease division director, during Tuesday's daily media briefing.

"In the next number of days, we will continue to see more and more cases," she continued. "People should not be shocked or concerned."

The increased testing will help officials measure how the virus is spreading in the community.

Serology testing, which measures antibodies, will also provide answers. But the accuracy varies between serology tests, and even the most accurate might not provide answers to questions such as whether people reinfected with COVID-19 could shed the virus and infect other people.

"This is a new virus so we are really learning as we go," said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, an infectious disease specialist.

Officials don't know whether having antibodies will protect people from reinfection — or if there is protection, how long it will last, Lynfield said.

Still, the tests can provide insight into the scale of the pandemic and help determine if people with antibodies can donate plasma to help sick patients.

More than 910 patients have been hospitalized to date across Minnesota. As of Tuesday, 314 patients were hospitalized, with 120 in intensive care. More than 1,910 patients no longer require isolation.

The age range of patients hospitalized is from 4 weeks to 102 years. The range of patients in intensive care is from 16 to 95, with an average age of 64

For people who have died of COVID-19, the ages range from 44 to 109, with a median age of 83.

Globally, there are more than 3 million cases of COVID-19, including 1 million in the U.S., according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center. More than 215,000 people have died of the infection worldwide, including 58,000 who have died in the U.S.

Stearns County Public Health and CentraCare are asking residents to call CentraCare Connect at 320-200-3200 if they have symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and a new loss of taste or smell.

Residents can also direct questions to the Stearns/Benton County Hotline at 1-877-782-5683.